Japan's defense minister pays courtesy call on Marcos

Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen on Monday paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. 

The courtesy call took place at the Study Room of Malacañang Palace. Marcos said the Philippines and Japan have been working closely for so many decades. 

''I hope that with the many changes that are occurring in our region, that your visit will – we will be able to discuss some of those anticipated changes that we are looking at in view of strengthening our relations between Japan and the Philippines,” Marcos said.

For his part, Nakatani said the two countries have been making “great developments” in the areas of defense cooperation and security cooperation” under the leadership of Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Earlier in the day, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Nakatani met in a hotel in Makati City for the defense ministerial meeting between the two countries.

Nakatani noted that the regional and international security environment is “complex,” “intensified,” and “harsh” so the two countries need to boost their defense ties.

“As the regional and international security environment have become increasingly complex and intensified, there is an increasing need for Japan and the Philippines to further enhance defense cooperation and collaboration in order to contribute to the peace and stability in the region and the international community,” Nakatani said in Japanese.

“Under such harsh security environment, I look forward to a deep strategic discussion with you from the broader perspective, in order to raise the level of our defense cooperation and collaboration between Japan and the Philippines to an even higher level,” he added.

Nakatani on Sunday visited the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, and the Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union, where radar systems bought from Japan in 2024 are stationed. — RF, GMA Integrated News